Threat hunting: what it is, what it's used for, and how it works

In this era we are living in, it's very common for companies to be under constant threat from cybercriminals and face the looming danger of security breaches that can result in catastrophic financial losses, reputational damage, and more.

This is where "threat hunting" comes into play. In this article, we explain what it is exactly and how it can become a shield for your company against cybercrime.

What is Threat Hunting?

Threat hunting is a proactive cybersecurity technique that investigates potential threats that automated tools may not detect.

Instead of waiting for security systems to react to an attack, it actively seeks anomalies or suspicious behaviors to stop them before they cause harm.

Characteristics of Threat Hunting

Here are some of the characteristics of threat hunting:

Proactivity

Instead of waiting for a security incident to occur, threat hunters actively seek signs of malicious activity to preemptively address them before major damage occurs.

Hypothesis-Based

They formulate hypotheses about potential threats and then search for evidence to confirm or refute them.

In-Depth Analysis

Detailed analysis of network and system data is conducted to identify suspicious patterns that could indicate an attack.

Use of Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence information is used to guide the search and better understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of cybercriminals.

Human Experience and Judgment

While tools and algorithms can be used, threat hunters also heavily rely on their experience and judgment to identify suspicious activities.

Adaptability

They must constantly adapt to changing tactics of cybercriminals and stay up-to-date with the latest threat trends and techniques.

Collaboration with Other Security Teams

When an attack is detected, they work closely with other security teams, such as incident response teams, to mitigate it.

Use of Threat Hunting Tools

To efficiently perform their work, they utilize various tools and technologies, which can include network security solutions, data analysis tools, threat intelligence software, and more.

Types of Threat Hunting

There are different approaches to threat hunting, each with its own strengths. Here's a breakdown of them:

• Hypothesis-Based Threat Hunting: Formulating hypotheses about systems, threats, and adversaries, and then seeking to confirm or refute them.

• Intelligence-Based Threat Hunting: This approach uses threat intelligence information, such as incident reports and security bulletins, to guide the search for attacks.

• Machine-Based Threat Hunting: Machine learning algorithms and behavior analytics are used to identify anomalous activity patterns that may indicate a threat.

Purpose of Threat Hunting

Threat hunting is an essential cybersecurity strategy that serves several vital functions in protecting an organization's systems and data. Here are some key ways it can be useful for your company.

Prevention of Cyber Attacks

The most significant benefit of threat hunting is its ability to detect and prevent cyber attacks before they happen.

Improved Incident Response

Threat hunting not only prevents attacks but also enhances your organization's ability to respond to them.

Security Education and Awareness

It serves as a valuable learning opportunity for your organization, helping to educate your staff about security risks and how they can contribute to the overall security posture.

Boosting Customer Confidence

Demonstrating proactive efforts to seek and address threats can increase customer confidence in your ability to protect their data.

How Threat Hunting Works

As mentioned earlier, the process of threat hunting begins with formulating hypotheses based on the hunter's knowledge of threats, systems, and adversaries.

These hypotheses can be as simple as "attackers might be attempting to gain access to our servers" or as specific as "attackers are using this particular technique to evade our detection."

Next, they use various tools and techniques to search for evidence that confirms or refutes their hypotheses. This may involve analyzing event logs, monitoring the network, investigating malware, and other data analysis methods.

If a threat is detected, the threat hunting team collaborates with the incident response team to mitigate it. Conversely, if no threats are detected, the hypotheses are refined, and the process starts again.

Steps to Implement Threat Hunting

To implement threat hunting within an organization, a series of steps need to be followed. While these steps may vary depending on the specific circumstances of each organization, here is a general outline to help you get started:

1. Understand the Environment

The first step is to fully understand your IT environment, including the systems, networks, and applications you are using. This also involves understanding what your most valuable assets are and where they are located, as these are the most likely targets of an attack.

2. Form a Threat Hunting Team

You will need a dedicated team of security professionals specializing in threat hunting.

These individuals should have a combination of technical and analytical skills, including knowledge of digital forensics, malware analysis, threat intelligence, and other relevant fields of cybersecurity.

3. Acquire and Configure the Right Tools

There are numerous tools you can use to facilitate your threat hunting efforts.

These may include network security solutions, security analysis platforms, threat intelligence solutions, and other technologies.

The key is to select the ones that best fit your specific needs and ensure they are properly configured to maximize their effectiveness.

4. Develop Threat Hypotheses

Based on your knowledge of the environment and existing threats, the team should generate hypotheses about possible attacks that could take place. These hypotheses should be specific enough to be useful but also broad enough to cover a variety of possible scenarios.

5. Actively Search for Threats

Once you have your hypotheses, the next step is to start actively searching for threats. This involves analyzing data from various sources, such as event logs, network traffic, and other data, to look for signs of malicious activity.

This process can be both automated and manual but must be continuous.

6. Analyze and Respond to Detected Threats

When a threat is detected, the team must analyze it and decide how to respond. This may involve containing the attack, removing malware, patching exploited vulnerabilities, and implementing measures to prevent similar attacks in the future.

7. Learn and Adapt

Finally, it's important for the team to learn from each threat hunting experience and adapt to new threats and tactics used by cybercriminals. This can involve updating threat hypotheses, adopting new tools and techniques, and providing ongoing training for the team.

Conclusion

We live in an increasingly digital and connected world, where cyber threats have become a daily challenge for organizations of all sizes and sectors.

Therefore, threat hunting emerges as a proactive and dynamic strategy to combat cybercrime and protect valuable digital assets of a company.

Beyond threat prevention, it also has significant educational value, as through this practice, organizations can gain a deeper understanding of cybercriminal tactics and use this knowledge to strengthen their defenses and train their personnel.

In conclusion, threat hunting is an investment worth considering for any organization that takes cybersecurity seriously. Through this practice, you can not only better protect your company against current threats but also prepare for the challenges of the future in the cyberspace.